5 ways to strengthen your LinkedIn profile
LinkedIn can help you present your experience and skills, explore career options and build professional connections. Your profile does not need to be complete before you start using LinkedIn. You can develop it as you gain new experience and your interests change.
1. Make your profile clear and current
Make sure the basic information on your profile is up to date. Include your current education at KI and relevant previous education or experience.
You can also add a profile photo if you want to. If you use one, choose a clear and professional photo that you are comfortable using in a professional context.
Use the About section to give a short introduction to your background, interests and the areas you are interested in.
2. Use your headline to show what interests you
Your headline is one of the first things people see on your profile.
Rather than only listing your degree or programme, you can use it to give a clearer picture of your interests and skills. Think about the fields, topics or types of roles you would like to be associated with.
Keep it concise and use words that people in your field are likely to recognise.
3. Show your experience and skills
You do not need years of professional experience to build a useful LinkedIn profile.
Include relevant experience from your studies, such as degree projects, research projects, laboratory work, clinical placements, internships and collaborations with external organisations.
You can also include employment, volunteering, student associations and other activities that have helped you develop relevant skills.
Describe what you did and what you learned rather than simply listing titles.
4. Build your professional network
LinkedIn can help you stay in touch with people you meet during your studies and discover people working in areas that interest you.
Consider connecting with fellow students, KI alumni, teachers, supervisors and people you meet through internships, projects, conferences or career events
When contacting someone you do not know well, explain briefly who you are and why you would like to connect.
You can also follow organisations and people in fields that interest you to learn more about different roles, employers and career paths.
5. Be active with purpose
You do not need to post frequently to make use of LinkedIn.
You can follow discussions in your field, engage with relevant posts, share something you have learned or comment on topics that genuinely interest you.
Before attending a career event or meeting an employer, LinkedIn can also be useful for learning more about the organisation and the people you may meet.
The aim is not to be active for the sake of being visible, but to use LinkedIn in a way that supports your professional interests and relationships.
Want feedback on your LinkedIn profile?
As a current KI student, you can get personal feedback on your LinkedIn profile through Go Monday, free of charge.